Knockdown shipping container



L. W. BAUER KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CONTAINER Aug. 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1946 INVENTOR. L8 OgOTJ quer ATTORNEYS;

Aug. 29, 1950 L. w. BAUER 2,520,303

KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYJ Aug. 29, 1950 L. w. BAUER 2,520,303

KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 26, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CONTAINER Leonard W. Bauer, Paterson, N. J.

Application October 26, 1946, Serial No. 705,978

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in shipping containers having six panels forming the top, bottom, sides and ends of the so-called three way corner overlap construction.

Conventional containers known as the three way corner overlap construction are made up of six separate panels.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means whereby the crater need only handle three members to completely crate and fixedly secure within the container articles such as washing machines, oil burners, stoves, motors and similar articles, as well as merchandise which need not be secured to the bottom of the container.

One Of the objects of my invention is the provision of a container or crate which may entirely enclose the merchandise made up of covering material such as sheets of corrugated paper, solid fibre sheets or other sheet material secured to Vertical and horizontal cleats and in which the ends of said cleat on one panel overlap the edges of a cleat at the edges of a panel extending normal to the first mentioned panels.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby when each of the panels is covered with sheet material, all of the cleats will be on the exterior of the sheeting.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the twoend panels and the two side panels are connected to each other in such a manner as to form an endless structure which is adapted to be collapsed for shipping to the user, together with the top and bottom panels.

Another object is the provision of means whereby the ends of each of the three cleats at the corner where three panels join each other can be nailed or secured to the edge of a cleat on one of the other panels, while the edge of each cleat at such corner is secured to the end of a cleat on another panel,

Having now described, in a general way, the nature and purpose of this invention, I will proceed, for illustrative purposes, to a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. l is a face view of one of the side panels;

Fig. 1A is an edge view of a side panel;

, Fig. 2 is a face view of an end panel;

Fig. 2A is an end view of an end panel; .Fig. 2B is an end view of an end panel after folding;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an assembly of two side panels and two end panels in folded or collapsed relation to each other;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the panels as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, in which the collapsed and panels have been partially opened;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with collapsed ends fully opened preparatory to placing on a bottom forming panel;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a top forming panel;

Fig. 7A is an end View of the tap panel;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom forming panel;

Fig. 8A is an end view of the bottom panel;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the completed container;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the completed container;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the completed container with a portion of the sheet material broken away to show a portion of the bottom panel; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the lowerright hand corner of the container shown in Fig. 11.

In Figures 1 and 1A I have illustrated what I have termed a side panel, while in Figures 2, 2A and 2B I have illustrated What I have termed an end panel, but it is to be understood that the terms applied to the panels may be reversed.

The side panel shown in Figures 1 and 1A comprises-a sheet of material I and three horizontally extending cleats 2, two of which extend along the horizontal edges of sheet I, and are somewhat shorter than the sheet 1 and are secured to the outer face of the sheet. The sheet is scored on the inner face at 3 substantially in a line with the ends of the cleats, and extending beyond the scores at each end is a flap I substantially the Width of a cleat.

The end panel shown in Figures 2, 2A and 23 comprises a sheet of material 4 which is substantially the length and width of the panel, and secured to each ofits vertical edges and to an in-.- termediate position thereof is avertical cleat to the outer face of the sheet 5, the panel being scored on the inner face thereof along one edge of the intermediate cleat as indicated at 6.

In forming the endless structure which is collapsed to form the end and side panels of a container, and flaps l on each end of the sheetl of the side panels is secured to the outer face of a cleat 5 as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and..4, the structure being in shape for shipment to the user, and with which is shipped a top panel as shown in Figures '7 and 7A, and a bottom panel shown in Figures 8 and 8A.

The top panel is formed of a sheet 1 having a cleat 8 secured to the outer face of the sheet along opposite edges thereof as well as through the intermediate position thereof, the length of the panel being equal to the Width of the end panels, while the width thereof is equal to the width of the side panels.

The bottom panel is formed of two cleat l along the outer edges, the length of which are equal to the length of theicleats 8 in the top panel, and secured to said cleats are supporting members 9 which are spaced a slight distance from the ends of the cleats In for the purpose hereafter described.

If it is desired to form a container with a closed bottom, a sheet of suitable material is secured between the cleats IO and the supporting membersrl If desired, intermediate cleats may be interposed between the cleats on each of the *panels, as indicated in dotted lines at 2* in Fig. 1, between .the ends of cleats 2 at :5 between the .ends (of cleats 5 in Fig. 2 and at 8 b'e'tween Tthe sends-0f cleatszfl in'Fig. .7.

Assuming that the end and side members have been secured together to :form an endless structuresuch as shown in Figures 3 and'ii, annachine which is :to be shipped within a container is secured to th'eisecuring members 9 or similar members properly spaced to support the base-of a machine .to be shipped therein,.and after the machine-has been properly secured, the endless structure 'is opened up' as shown in Figure .5 :and positioned over the machine or article secured to the supports 14?, the-lower ends .of the cleats 5 on the lend :panels engage :the iouter :faces of the cleats ill of the bottom panel, while the imwer cleats .2 of the side panels rest on .the ends of cleats ID, the ends of the cleats 5 are secured .to -the2outer'faces of .the'cleats i0. Theends ofthe cleats 2 on the side panels are secured toithe side faces of :the cleats i :at zthe sides of the end .panels.

.Thettop'panel is then-positioned:withlts Cheats '18 between the'upperiends o'f'ithe cleatsifi of :the

end :panels, '.the :ends of cleats 5 are secured "to thez-sides .of the cleats'8, While the-ends (of cleats I8 Dn'the top :panel are-secured to thesid'e "faces on the upperi'cleatsi vontthe sidepanels.

' I he lower cleats 2 on the side panels zmaybe secured to 'thesides .of the supporting members :9

'andalso secured'to theendsjof cleats-1.0.

.If (intermediate cleats are zincluded as :shown :inzdotted lines at 2%,(5' an'dfi zin Figs. 1, 2:.and vl, respectively, these intermediate cleats areiseoured to underlying cleats -.extending :parallel thereto on panels extending normal to the panels :to which the intermediate cleatsare secured.

By this means each cleat has eachiendisecured .to the side of the cleaton an adjacentrpanel extending normal to thepanel on which the end-of the cleat of the first mentioned panel .is secured. By this'means each end of eachcleat'at the corner where three panels join each other is connected to the =sideof1cleat=on a panel extending normal thereto.

In the form described, the-sheets on theside panels extend b eyond'the ends of the rleats 'along the iupper-and lower edges to form -flaps, which are secured to the faces of cleats 5 along the vertical :edges 0f the end panels, :the fiaps on Ithe side panels as :well as the intermediate portion of the sheets of 'the end panels aare'sc'ore'd "to permit the Tend panels to be collapsed' to posi'tion the side vone above the other in close relationship.

If desired, the sheets 1 forming the top panel may extend beyond the ends of the cleats 8 a sufficient distance to form flaps to overlap the upper cleats 2 on the side panels, while sheets 4 forming the end panels may extend a sufficient distance beyond the upper ends of cleats 5 to form flaps to overlap the edge cleats 8 on the top panel.

The advantages of my invention result from the :provision of -'means wlrereby a machine or motor or other article may'be'assemble'd directly on the bottom panel of the shipping container "by securing the base members of the machine to the supporting members ID, erecting the machine, and after completed, the endless structure formed of end and side panels is opened, and

:positioned over'themachine secured to the base panel, after which the top panel is placed in position and secured.

A further advantageof my invention results irom the (provision of a knockdown-container ,tor articles having a pluralityof various elements assembledon a moving assembly line 'as the bottom panels of thecontainers'can be .placed'on the assembly :line, :the supporting :base portion of the article canibe-secured to -the bottom panel after which the various members or parts 0f the article are assembled as the bottom :panel of the container is .moved along thel-line and when the article :has been completely assembled, @it will have reached the station at which the collapsed --ends :and :sides are located which are then opened and lowered over the assembled article 'to .envelop the .same, the side and end panel bein secured to the bottom panel during the passage aof the 'envelopedarticle to the station Where top panel is applied. and durin the passage from said last station to -the end of 13he=-line,-the 'top panel is secureld in position be- .tween the end panels-and to the tops-oi the side panels so that the-article crated for shipment as lit leaves the assembly .11118.

What -tI claim :and desire to :protect by Letters Patent is:

vl. An assembly :of separately formed panels connected toseach other 1 to forman endless structurerior forming-the .sidesand endsof a shipping container to which -.top .and bottom forming panels may be secured -to form a -complete container, comprismg two side panels .each having acoveringsheet, a cleat secured. lto each horizontal .edge formingportion cf Qthercontainer of the length of ithe.panl, the .covering sheet xextending beyond .the ends or .the cleats, and two .end panels each'having a covering sheet, a cleat secjur'ed alon each vertical edge of'the Sheet and extending beyond each horizontal cleat of the side 'panels'theiportions o'fthe sheets of'the side panels extending b eyo'nd 'the cleats being "secured to the-vertical cleats "of the end members.

2. -An assembly of separately iormed panels connected to each other to form anendiessstrueture for forming the sidesan'd ends of a shipping container to which top and bottom forming P panels may be 'secure'd to form acomplete contain'er, comprising two side panels each having a covering sheet, 'a cleat secured to each horizontal edge forming portion of the container of the length of the panel, the covering sheet extending beyond the ends of the cleats, and two end panls-each having a'covering sheet, a cleat secured along each vertical edge -of "the sheet and extending fr'om one horizontal edge to the other, the portions of the sheets :of the side panels extending beyond the cleats being secured to thevertical cleats of the end members, the length of the cleats and sheet on the end panels extending beyond the horizontal edges of the side panels to form securing means for securinga top'and bottom between the ends of the and panels while in engagement with the outer faces of the horizontal cleats on the side members.

3. An assemblyof separatelyformed panels connected to each other to form an endless structure for forming the sides and ends of a shipping container to which top and bottom forming panels may be secured to form a complete container, comprising two side panels each having a. covering sheet, a cleat secured to each horizontal edge forming portion of the container of the length of the panel, the covering sheet extending beyond the ends of the cleats, and two end panels each having a covering sheet, a cleat secured along each vertical edge of the sheet and extending from one horizontal edge to the other, the portions of the sheets of the side panels extending beyond the cleats being secured to the outer faces of the vertical cleats of the end members, each of the sheets being vertically scored to permit the collapsing of the structure, the ends of the vertical cleats on the end panels extending beyond the horizontal cleats of the side panels forming seats on the cleats on the side members between the extended ends of the vertical cleats on the end panels.

4. A six sided shipping container having four panels collapsibly connected to each other in an endless manner to form the sides and ends of the container, each panel being formed of sheet material and cleats secured thereto, a bottom panel and a top panel, the bottom panel having two parallel cleats and means for securing the cleats in spaced relation to each other, the side forming panels each comprising a sheet having a cleat secured thereto along each horizontal edge thereof of less length than the sheet, the lower cleats of each of said side panels resting on the ends of the cleats on the bottom panel and secured thereto, each of the end panels comprising a sheet having a vertical cleat secured along each of the vertical edges thereof extending beyond the horizontal cleats on the side panels, the lower ends of the vertical cleats on the end panels being secured to the cleats on the bottom panel, the portions of the sheets of the first side panels extending over the vertical cleats and secured thereto, whereby the side and end forming panels were secured to each other in an endless manner for shipment, and a top panel comprising a sheet having a cleat secured thereto along two opposite edges thereof, the ends of the cleats resting on the horizontal cleats of two of the side forming panels and secured thereto, while the sides of the cleats on the top panel are in engagement with the upper ends of the vertical cleats on the other end formin panels and are secured thereto.

5. An assembly of four individual panels for forming the ends and sides of a shipping container, formed of sheet material and cleats secured to the outer faces thereof, arranged to form a four-sided endless structure arranged to slip over the edges of a bottom panel and to receive a top panel, a pair of side panels each having a horizontal cleat along each horizontal edge of the sheet of a length less than the length of the sheet secured to the cleats, the end panels each having a cleat secured along each vertical edge of the sheet the same length as the sheet,

the portions of the sheet of each of the side panels extending beyond the ends of the cleats extending over the side of a vertical cleat of an end panel and secured thereto, the ends of the end panels embracing top and bottom panels, while the top and bottom panels engage the horizontal cleats of the side members.

6. An assembly of four individual panels for forming the ends and sides of a shipping container, formed of sheet material and cleats secured to the outer faces thereof, arranged to form a four-sided endless structure arranged to slip over the edges of a bottom panel and to receive a top panel, a pair of side panels each having a horizontal cleat along each horizontal edge of the sheet of a length less than the length of the sheet secured to the cleats, the end panels each having a cleat secured along each vertical edge of the sheet the same length as the sheet, the portions of the sheet of each of the side panels extending beyond the ends of the cleats extending over the side of a vertical cleat of an end panel and secured thereto, the ends of the end panels embracing top and bottom panels, while the top and bottom panels engage the horizontal cleats of the side members, the sheet of each end panel being centrally scored parallel to the cleats thereon to permit collapsing.

7. An assembly of four individual panels for forming the ends and sides of a shipping container, formed of sheet material and cleats secured to the outer faces thereof, arranged to form a four-sided endless structure arranged to slip over the edges of a bottom panel and to receive a top panel, a pair of side panels each having a horizontal cleat along each horizontal edge of the sheet of a length less than the length of the sheet secured to the cleats, the end panels each having a cleat secured along each vertical edge of the sheet the same length as the sheet, the portions of the sheet of each of the side panels extending beyond the ends of the cleats extending over the side of a vertical cleat of an end panel and secured thereto, the ends of the end panels embracing top and bottom panels, while the top and bottom panels engage the horizontal cleats of the side members, the sheet of each end panel being centrally scored parallel to the cleats thereon to permit collapsing, and a third cleat secured to the outer face of the end panel along said score equal in length to the cleats along the vertical edges.

8. An endless collapsible envelope adapted to form the side and end panels of a shipping container, each panel comprising a sheet of material and a plurality of cleats, two opposite panels having a cleat secured to the outer face of the sheet along opposite edges thereof, the ends of the sheet extending beyond the ends of the cleats forming a flap at each end thereof, the other panels each having a cleat secured to the outer face of the sheet along opposite edges at right angles to the cleats on the first mentioned panels, the inner faces of the flaps on the first mentioned panels being secured to the outer faces of the cleats on the second mentioned panels, a third cleat on each of the second mentioned panels parallel with the cleats at the edges of the sheets secured to the outer faces of the sheets with an edge of the cleat along the central portion of the sheets, the second panels being foldable along the said edges of the intermediate cleats, while the flaps are foldable along a line normal to the ends of the cleats on the first panels, the upper and lower ends of the envelope being ar- Tahgedforthereception of a bottom and a cove'r.

43. A shipping container formed of a bottom panel having asupporting member at eachside lot the panel and end cleats below'the'supportingmembers 'connected thereto, the ends of-said cleatsextending beyond the supporting members and an endless collapsible envelope having two si'deipanels and two end panels, each having a sheet 'and a cleat along each of two opposite edgesvof the sheet secured to the outer face thereof, the side. panels each having a cleat along each 01 theiupper and lower edges of the sheet of less len'gth than the sheets, providing vertical flaps extending beyond'the'ends of the cleats, the'end panels each having a vertical cleat along each vertical edge, the inner faceslof the vertical flaps being secured to the outer faces of the vertical cle'atsadjacent thereto, a third vertical cleat on each'sheet of the end panels, the end panels beingfolded along the edges of the third vertical eleat's andthe vflaps at'the junction between the etlges 01 the vertical cleats and the ends of the 8 horizontal .cleats when lthe 'zehvelop'e d s I opened and positioned ion the bottom panel, ithe "cleats alongthe lower edge's oftthe -sidepane1s rest on theends (if the r-cleats on the bottomipanel, and a top having a "cleat along two opposite edges thereof, the ends thereof being adapted to rest on the edges of the -cleats on the side panels between the ends of the three vertical cleatsaonthe endpanels.

LEONARD'W. BAUER.

'EEEFERENCES CITED The following rferences'are of recordinth file of this mum: UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson June -1, 1.948 

